Use of the Van Regemorter formula for collision strengths or cross sections

Journal Article · Sat Feb 01 04:00:00 EST 1992 · Physical Review A. General Physics; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevA.45.1556· OSTI ID:7276803

Sampson, D H; Zhang, H L ^[1]

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1. Department of Astronomy and Astrophysics, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802 (United States)

The accuracy of the widely used Van Regemorter formula (Astrophys. J. 136, 906 (1962)) for calculating the collision strengths needed in applications to high-temperature plasmas is tested by comparison with numerous more accurate calculations. It is found to be frequently a very poor approximation, especially for {Delta}{ital n}{ge}1 excitation transitions from levels with {ital l}{lt}{ital n}{minus}1, and the recommendation is made that with the recent advances in calculational procedures and available accurate atomic data use of the Van Regemorter formula should be discontinued.

• OSTI ID: 7276803
• Journal Information: Physical Review A. General Physics; (United States), Journal Name: Physical Review A. General Physics; (United States) Vol. 45:3; ISSN 1050-2947; ISSN PLRAA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

664300* -- Atomic & Molecular Physics-- Collision Phenomena-- (1992-)
74 ATOMIC AND MOLECULAR PHYSICS
ATOM COLLISIONS
CALCULATION METHODS
COLLISIONS
CROSS SECTIONS
DECAY
DIPOLES
ELECTRIC DIPOLES
ELECTRON COLLISIONS
ELECTRON-ATOM COLLISIONS
ENERGY-LEVEL TRANSITIONS
EXCITATION
MULTIPOLES
OSCILLATOR STRENGTHS
PARTICLE DECAY
RADIATIVE DECAY